His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

I don't see him winning with Contador, Froome, and others. Now that he has a GT in his legs I think he could get in the top 5 or maybe a podium. Is it a sure thing that he will do the tour? I actually think it might be better for him to go for the win in the Vuelta and then carry his Vuelta form into worlds.

airstream wrote:Oh, I remembered one more argument: a rider with one life cannot beat other rider with two in the Tour cos' we know what consequenses getting popped in France is fraught. Though, I won't be surprised if Contador bluffs to the bitter end. The guy truly has no fear. Being busted twice in the Tour would be a new cycling milestone. It would be an instant 5 year prison term

WHEN are you going to take your CRAP to the Clinic where it belongs?????????
You just Can't follow the rules can you????

Alberto Contador=Legend!

Nibali becomes only the 6th winner of all 3 GTS (2014)! Nibali joins Gimondi, Merckx and Hinault as only the 4th man to win all 3 GTS and 2 different Monuments (2018). A throwback rider in this age of specialization. Bravo!

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.(

I think he could do very well, but probably not the win (I would say only Shleck, Contador, Froome and Nibali could), though Samu, Evans, TJVG, JROD, Pinot, Rolland and Valverde can all podium/ challenge. However he will be hurt by the lack of bonus seconds and the ITT's shall still play a part.

Hopefully Intxausti and Capecchi could also ride. It is a pity Kyrienka is leaving, his mountain train would have been awesome.

greenedge wrote:I think he could do very well, but probably not the win (I would say only Shleck, Contador, Froome and Nibali could), though Samu, Evans, TJVG, JROD, Pinot, Rolland and Valverde can all podium/ challenge. However he will be hurt by the lack of bonus seconds and the ITT's shall still play a part.

Hopefully Intxausti and Capecchi could also ride. It is a pity Kyrienka is leaving, his mountain train would have been awesome.

Can't see Valverde making the podium. As we have seen before Vuelta performances rarely have a parallels in the Tour even though I thought he did really well in the Vuelta. I think the Vuelta is the only grand tour he could win now or even podium.

movingtarget wrote:Can't see Valverde making the podium. As we have seen before Vuelta performances rarely have a parallels in the Tour even though I thought he did really well in the Vuelta. I think the Vuelta is the only grand tour he could win now or even podium.

Well, I just hope he can get at least one decent shot at the Tour podium before the end of his career, something he hasn't been able to do since 2008. And now with a full season of racing in his legs I believe he can.

Btw which British riders were in the podium of this year's Tour and the 2011 Vuelta? And if Vuelta performances don't have many parallels with the Tour I'm wondering why Froome isn't first in this poll, with the Vuelta being probably his last GT before next year's Tour? Cobo's just a bad reference, Valverde has proven to be a much more consistent top 10 rider in GT, podiuming in 2 out of his last 3 GT's.

Ryo Hazuki wrote:valverde is considerably less strong than contador and purito so he doesn't even stand a chance of podiuming.

Less strong than Contador, but more consistent than J-Rod. J-Rod seems to always have one or two bad days in every GT. Valverde was certainly the third strongest in the Vuelta for most of the days, but had it where it counted.

Moser fanboy.

Libertine Seguros wrote:Colombia is a world of totally alien wonder, a bit like putting the Amish in the control room at NASA.

gustienordic wrote:Less strong than Contador, but more consistent than J-Rod. J-Rod seems to always have one or two bad days in every GT. Valverde was certainly the third strongest in the Vuelta for most of the days, but had it where it counted.

and the third strongest in the vuelta imo doesn't stand a chance to win or podium the tour under normal circumstances

Altitude wrote:Valverde will be in the mix. He's better than Nibali and Frank Schleck when he's in shape. Nibali is perhaps the most overrated rider at the moment.

Hmm. Not sure about Frank. But a fit Valverde is in the mix no doubt. Don't agree about Nibs being overrated. He was the only rider to try and take on Sky TDF 2012 and go and watch some of his rides in Giro 2011.

Nibs: 1st, 2nd(3rd) and 3rd in a GT in consecutive years (Vuelta, Giro, TDF) is pretty impressive stuff to me:)

ferryman wrote:Hmm. Not sure about Frank. But a fit Valverde is in the mix no doubt. Don't agree about Nibs being overrated. He was the only rider to try and take on Sky TDF 2012 and go and watch some of his rides in Giro 2011.

Nibs: 1st, 2nd(3rd) and 3rd in a GT in consecutive years (Vuelta, Giro, TDF) is pretty impressive stuff to me:)

You think a fresh Nibali could have matched Contador, Rodriguez, and Valverde in the Vuelta? I don't. He couldn't even drop Wiggins.

"... because he set an amazing example. He has more courage than anyone I ever rode with and that's why he got respect from his team-mates. A great leader makes you want to go beyond the limits."